Outlook: It has been five years since the Southeastern Conference won a national title--and that was also the last time the league sent a representative to the Bowl Championship Series title game. This is a source of great aggravation in Dixie.

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3. BIG TEN

1. Michigan 7. Illinois

2. Ohio State 8. Minnesota

3. Wisconsin 9. Northwestern

4. Penn State 10. Michigan State

5. Purdue 11. Indiana

6. Iowa

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The big games: Wisconsin at Penn State Oct. 4; Ohio State at Wisconsin Oct. 11; Ohio State at Michigan Nov. 22.

Outlook: There was a time when picking Michigan or Ohio State was safe. But with seven different champions in the last four years, it's anybody's guess who will win the nation's most competitive conference.

Outlook: The Pac-10 is the only BCS-affiliated conference that has failed to qualify for the BCS title game. Oregon deserved a shot two years ago but was denied by the computers, which paired the Big 12's Nebraska against Miami of the Big East in the Rose Bowl.

%% 5. ATLANTIC COAST

1. N.C. State 6. Clemson

2. Florida State 7. Georgia Tech

3. Maryland 8. Wake Forest

4. Virginia 9. Duke

5. North Carolina

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The big games: Maryland at Florida State Sept. 6; Virginia at Maryland Nov. 13; North Carolina State at Florida State Nov. 15.

Outlook: This old basketball conference earned immediate gridiron credibility when it added Miami and Virginia Tech, which begin ACC play in 2005. But the league already was improving, and this fall a handful of challengers are ready to take advantage of Florida State's tumble.

Outlook: Miami and Virginia Tech bolted for the Atlantic Coast Conference in the offseason. But both schools remain in the Big East for two more years, which means emotions will run high when they take on the schools they're leaving behind.

%% 7. MOUNTAIN WEST

1. Colorado State 5. Utah

2. Air Force 6. San Diego State

3. New Mexico 7. Wyoming

4. Brigham Young 8. UNLV

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The big games: Colorado State at Brigham Young Oct. 9; Air Force at Colorado State Oct. 16; Air Force at New Mexico Nov. 15.

Outlook: The entertaining Mountain West has almost no profile east of the Rockies. That's a shame, because the MWC figures to produce some interesting battles this autumn as the rest of the league tries to catch up with Colorado State, which has won three of the MWC's first four championships.

Outlook: League favorite TCU must play its two top rivals in the space of five days. Is that fair? No. But it's a fact of life in Conference USA, where any day is a good day for football, so long as someone is willing to televise it.

Outlook: Marshall has been the class of the MAC, winning five of the last six title games. But the Thundering Herd has to replace quarterback Byron Leftwich, and that could open the door for up-and-coming Northern Illinois, Miami of Ohio or Bowling Green.

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10. WESTERN ATHLETIC

1. Fresno State 6. San Jose State

2. Hawaii 7. SMU

3. Boise State 8. Rice

4. Lousiana Tech 9. Tulsa

5. Nevada 10. Texas-El Paso

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The big games: Fresno State at Hawaii Oct. 11; Boise State at Fresno State Nov. 21; Boise State at Hawaii Dec. 6.

Outlook: The WAC continues its policy of suicidal scheduling this year, with league teams visiting Tennessee, Oklahoma, Colorado State, USC, Florida and Washington.

%% 11. SUN BELT

1. North Texas 5. La.-Lafayette

2. Middle Tenn. St. 6. Idaho

3. New Mexico St. 7. La.-Monroe

4. Arkansas State 8. Utah State

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The big games: North Texas at Middle Tennessee Oct. 25; North Texas at New Mexico St. Nov. 25.

Outlook: The Sun Belt plays a number of money games--games where they travel to get beaten badly, but take home a big paycheck.